12noon,Doors Open!, ((( buy some vinyl / remember what is was like 2 hang in a cool record store ! )))5PM "The Pigs": kick off the Live Muz(a)kTeam Spider: ???time8PM. Show OVER !! you missed it sucka.Admission: FREE. People are allowed to drink there by bringing their own drinksssssssssssssss.

Today is Critical Mass all around the world.

So get out there and ride a bike.

Mike Maronna of the 90's classic kids show: "The adventures of Pete and Pete," is a member of my local film union, a talented actor and a member of our bike community. Here he is in a new music video for Nada Surf. Nice riding Mike!

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Watch out on your commute tomorrow and Props to the London Rollers

Friday is Critical Mass-January 25th. So remember...the cops have been setting up these sting operations to harass cyclists and continue their "hurt-pride" war on the monthly Critical mass ride. They have been consistently set up on Broadway around 19th St. So if you are riding home from work starting as early as 6:30pm...stay away from Broadway unless you want a summons for some stupid crap like "not riding in the bike lane." I got a ticket in November and friends of mine got tickets in December. If they don't get you on the bike lane thing these bored cops, will look to see if you have a head light or a back red light. I am not kidding. Sometimes its not just Broadway. Cops have been seen on Park Ave as well. So either pick a different route, far to the East or West of Broadway, or wait a few hours.

Meanwhile in London they are having their tenth Rollapaluza. This is an indoor roller race.

Jacob's race Boston February 23rd.

Demoliton Fixie

Trends come and go and often die in a fiery blaze. Remember when everyone used to rollerblade to work? Where are they now. Kind of like the day Disco died, when mainstream artists like the Rod Stewart, the Rolling Stones and Kiss started having disco songs. Sometimes the trends can be antiquated with actual days like when the record promoters staged a "Demolition Disco" night during a Chicago Whitesoxs double header in July 1979. Music historians claim this it the official day disco died when fans were encouraged to bring disco albums to the game, throw them in a pile and watch them explode.Heres a video from MSNBC explaining.

Its there new spring collection for 08 called: alleycats. With other really offensive rip-offs of bike culture that aren't even in the same decades: "Breakaway from the mainstream" an obvious reference to the 1979 movie. (Hey 1979-the year disco died...hmmm) Its all really laughable.

Time's Up for Time's Up

Today there was a sale for Time's Up to raise funds for their new space...which hasn't been located yet. There were items for sale upstairs, clothes and various nick-knacks, but the real goods were downstairs in the basement. The volunteer mechanics were on hand to sell off some bikes, bike parts, bike tools and lots of other gear. It was kind of a reunion for this 20 year old environmental organization. Interesting how people come out when there are things for sale...hmmm. Still it was proof that the cycling community is tight and it was good to see familiar faces. 49 East Houston has been an amazing gift but it looks like its curtains for this prime piece of real-estate. It has been such a quintessential space for organizing, hosting screenings, having meetings and all the bike mechanics workshops.

Now onto the task of finding a new space. If anyone has ideas...please let them know. Here is the page to find out more and get involved. Space is hard to come by, but Time's Up is a surviver and will always be on hand to educate the public and host lots of free bike rides.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Website and Blog roundup.

Here are some news and tidbits from blogs and websites giving love to the bike community:

Photos by Will of Razorapple For three years there's been an alleycat race open to those new to the sport, affectionately called, "alleykitten." December 30th was the date.Here are three recaps with pictures:

picture form six racing...Guy in the black hood is race veteran Victor, who organized Monster Track 08 last year. He's really camera shy.

Meanwhile...we may all be in trouble. No not the nose-diving economy but Rapper Kanye West bought a Cinelli Vigorelli Track bike from Track Star. This has got bikesnob only mildly freak out about the hipsterfication of fixed gear culture.

Time's Up Sale on Sunday

Time's Up is moving from the space they have been given on 49 East Houston Street, Manhattan. This Sunday, January 20th from 3-6:30pm they will be selling most of the stuff in their basement. A good opportunity for great deals on bikes, bike parts, frames, sound equipment, etc. Bound to find some good deals. If your looking for a used bike, there are some real gems down there, so stop by.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Is the New York Times ignoring us?

4 days after our 3rd annual memorial ride, the New York Times comes out with this article on Ghostbikes and Bike Boxes in Portland, Oregon. Now I know this West Coast city is the US model for cycling utopia, but we have Ghostbikes here and Bike Boxes. I know America is looking to Portland for ideas, but the Times is doing a great disservice by ignoring what is happening here in New York City. Here is the article, from the times.

Here's a local paper who felt it was important to report on the NYC memorial ride.

Video from this years memorial ride.

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Need some Thermals, socks or cycling jersey's?

RNC, in Minneapolis...history repeats itself...again.

We New Yorkers know there is no better way to ruin your critical mass ride than a Republican National Convention coming to town. We're still feeling the effects of a once largely attended worldwide event, reduced to 50 or so people brave enough to ride bikes in a group and challenge a childish police grudge from 4 years ago. An RNC is a golden opportunity for law enforcement to break out their shiny new 'non-lethal' weaponry they got for Christmas and put your hard earned tax dollars to work. Not to mention treat everyone like terrorists and turn up the Orange levels to maximum.

Since we've ignored the urgent calls for campaign reform, yet again...we've front loaded the primaries and have created such a rush in candidate selection that now only those with top dollars can stay afloat through super Tuesday in the first week of February.

The police activity is also front loaded and the cops in Minneapolis have wasted no time in preparing for the next Republican Convention in September of 2008.

The pattern repeats itself.

Back in August of 2007, Minneapolis' peaceful critical mass ride was...you guessed it...taken over by ANARCHISTS...or so the story goes by the police.

Minneapolis is hosting this years RNC, September 1-4th 2008, and people are already front loading the organizing to give these wealthy, war mongering, corporate welfare receiving, public service destroying delegates a proper HELLO (NOT WELCOME)

Not that any Republican has a chance this time around, but that won't stop Homeland Security form cracking down on our rights of free speech, free assembly and freedom to ride bikes.

Here's a little recap of what went on by Huffington Post writer Peter Smith.

Here's a little video:

Things seemed to have calmed down...since the ANARCHISTS left. Damn those ANARCHISTS, they hate our freedom. There like TERRORISTS only without a "T."

Monday, January 07, 2008

Bootleg Sessions video

If you don't advocate behavior on bikes racing through traffic and holding onto cars, your definitely not going to like this behavior...

This is a second trailer for a new dvd put together by Cadence and a bunch of fresh riders who do tricks on track bikes...its the latest craze and all the kids are doing it.

So if you are one of those people that think riding like this is done by skillful athletes who can probably handle their whips better then your average cyclists...you might want to think about buying this new dvd and checking it out.

"The World Premiere of Bootleg Sessions has been scheduled! It will take place at Galapagos Art Space in Williamsburg, Brooklyn on January 13th as part of Bike Shorts 4. If you live in NYC, you must attend. The Philly crew will undoubtedly be there to represent, and where they go, action (and injury) will most likely follow.

Sunday, January 06, 2008

Short video of yesterday's Balloon Project.

Links to New Year's Ride

Every year Time's up has its annual New Years bike ride, a pleasant environmentally friendly alternative to standing for hours in Time's Square in the freezing cold. This year the ride was about 200 strong and another 200 came out to see fireworks in Central park, where the ride ends.

Here is a little feel good statement for Time's Up director Bill DiPaola,

Part Bike ride, part New Years Eve Party, the 10th Annual Time's Up!New Years Eve Party Ride gathered over 400!

This year Time's Up! stepped it up by adding more meeting pointsincluding Brooklyn and Queens. We also emphasized the importance ofstarting off the new year with your community with by supportingtime's Up! and the environment. We had over 200 celebrating bikeriders and we met up with another 200 people in the park, which addedup to an amazing party with fireworks at the end.

The timing posed a huge challenge, however Everything seemed to comeinto place perfectly and the bike ride and party rocked on thanks tothe Rude Mechanical Orchestra (who even trailered their instruments upfrom the Time's Up! space!). Special Thanks to Rich, Barbara, Judy,Curtis, Peter and everyone else who contributed. None of this wouldhave been possible without our volunteers!

Monster Track 9 is coming in March

Friday, January 04, 2008

Balloon Project this Saturday in Manhattan

The Balloon Project started in San Francisco when a bunch of friends, intent on getting some aerial footage, launched a video camera attached to balloons. No strings attached: just the wind, gravity, and chasing it down by bike.

The New York Balloon Project will take place with a planned trajectory over Central Park this Saturday. The weather will be in the 40s, with the wind headed in a North-north-easterly direction through Manhattan.

As far as everyone here is concerned, the chase is the race. The objective is to follow and capture the balloons with video camera first. If you ride faster than the wind, you win. Money. $50 cash prize and YouTube FAME.

Short and sweet. No registration fee, no manifest, no checkpoints, no planned route. Just chasing the balloons to their final resting place after they're launched, rise up a few hundred feet, and gradually descend after 20-30 minutes.

Be at Columbus Circle at 1pm so the race and the New York Balloon Project can commence by 1.30.

Got doubts? This has been done in San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Texas, Berlin, and on 2008 New Years in Times Square. Here is a video from Berlin, only the German's could take something like this so seriously...hence the music.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

A new year and time for reflection

This Sunday is the third annual Memorial ride to commemorate the deaths of cyclists in 2007. There are three starting points for this ride in Jamaica Queens, South Brooklyn and the North Bronx at 9:30am. The groups of riders will stop at the various points where ghost bikes have been placed and take time to reflect, say words and place flowers. The rides will all converge in Williamsburg and then meet up with the "Walk to remember pedestrians killed in 2007." There will be a rally and press conference at City Hall in Manhattan to end the event. For more information on the ride and where to join in visit Ghostbikes.org